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The simple method for random starting position generation published in the last article can be found as
the BOULINA method for Chess960 starting positions generation.

The simple method for Chess960 starting positions generation

A quick and easy way to create random Chess960 positions.

Method with 8 playing cards.

A

3

♣

5

♣

♣

7

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

A

♣

3

♣

♣

5

♣

♣

7

♣

♣

♣

♣

Step 1: Separate odd from even cards into two stacks. Draw one card from each stack.

2

♣

4

♣

♣

6

♣

♣

8

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

2

♣

♣

4

♣

♣

6

♣

♣

8

♣

♣

♣

♣

For example:

5	♣		♣			6	♣		♣
♣						♣
		♣					♣		♣
	♣		♣	5			♣		♣	6
				♣						♣

These first two cards are the positions for the Bishops (obviously there will be one white and one black Bishop, as required).

				♝	♝
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8

Step 2: Shuffle the remaining 6 cards (in our example they are : 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8) and draw 3 random cards.
Let's say we drew the 2, 1 and 8, in this order:

2

♣

A

8

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

♣

2

A

♣

♣

8

♣

♣

♣

These are the positions for the Queen and the 2 Knights.

♞	♛			♝	♝		♞
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8

Step 3: The remaining empty squares are for Rook, King, Rook, in this order, so that castling is possible.

♞

♛

♜

♚

♝

♝

♜

♞

Congratulations! You are done!

NOTE: This method ensures that each one of the 960 possible positions have an equal probability to come.
The positions are absolute and not relative.

For a method with eight cards but only one draw click here.